SCRIPTURE teems with questions of all sorts; but surely none of deeper importance were ever uttered than the one which stands at the head of this paper. The question was asked by One who had performed the wonderful miracle of opening the eyes of a man who had been born blind, and who had already confessed, before his neighbors and friends, that “a man called Jesus had made some day, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash; and I went and washed, and I received sight.” This was in itself a good confession as to Christ’s person and work; but further testimony quickly followed when he declared that this same Jesus was “a prophet,” and, amidst the jeers of Christ’s enemies, boldly asserted, in the confidence of faith, “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not; one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.”
Pharisaic reviling was now freely heaped upon the man whose eyes were opened; but brighter still shone his faith when their callous sneers were met by the simple statement, “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God he could do nothing.” Their bitter rage now reached its climax, as they exclaimed, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.” Yes; the religious world of that day had agreed among themselves that “if any man did confess that Jesus was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.”
As then, so is it now that the mere, religionist is a bitter foe to God and His Christ; hence the synagogue door was rudely shut in the face of this true confessor, only however, to bring him into still closer touch with his Almighty Deliverer. “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
This, dear reader, is the all-important question for each and all of Adam’s race; and none can ever really know the joys of God’s salvation unless from their hearts they honestly confess that Jesus the Christ is, in deed and in truth, the Son of God. On this divine foundation everything rests for time and eternity; and amidst all the ten thousand dogmas and increasing confusion of these last and closing days faith can give only one answer to Christ’s question. Face to face with his mighty Deliverer, the man whose eyes were now open earnestly enquires, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him; and it is he that talketh with thee.”
With this fresh confession that Jesus is Lord, divine light filled his soul; and the spiritual eyes of him who had been born blind gazed with adoring wonder on God’s Holy One; and, as this stupendous truth was borne in upon his spiritual vision, he joyfully exclaims, “Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”
Dear reader, nineteen centuries have rolled away since this wonderful event took place, and while we who, through grace, believe in Jesus can truly say: “We know the Son of God has come; and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true,” may I ask you personally, Have you ever yet confessed, from the inmost depths of your soul, that the “Man called Jesus” is none other than the Son of God? Were He not such He would be nothing to thee; but as He is what He is, the Son of the living God, may it be your joy to own Him now as your own Saviour and Lord!
As Son of God He gives eternal life to all who trust Him; but the day is coming when those who refuse Him now as their own personal Saviour will stand before Him as Judge, for “the Father hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” Be not then like those self-righteous Pharisees who asked Jesus that foolish question, “Are we blind also?” and yet unmoved, received from His holy lips the heart-aching answer, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth.” “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” True wisdom is only found when, like the blind man, we simply obey the Lord’s word; and, just as the soul unreservedly yields to God’s grace, the eyes of the heart are opened by faith, and we discover, to our eternal peace and joy, what a real Saviour Jesus is.
Reader, sooner or later, this question must be answered: ―
“Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
S. T.